Cleveland abduction victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight haven’t been heard from since Charles Ramsey rescued them from the dirty clutches of Ariel Castro. (For more on the story, click here.)

But on Monday, the lucky girls released a YouTube video, thanking everyone who helped and supported them and their families through the tragic time.

The video above features Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, her mom and dad and Michelle Knight (in that order) all expressing their thoughts and thanks.

Berry:

I want everyone to know how happy I am to be home, with my family, my friends,

Knight:

I may have been through hell and back, but I am strong enough to walk through hell with a smile on my face and with my head held high. I will not let the situation define who I am. I will define the situation. I don’t want to be consumed by hatred.

It has been reported that around R10 million has been donated to a fund set up by the women themselves.

Although the girls have recorded this video, they still asked for their privacy to be respected going forward.

[Source: YouTube, TheGuardian]